The Last Dance: Phil Jackson was a true player’s coach

Conclusion

The further we get into “The Last Dance,” the more we learn that Jackson was not only an X’s and O’s coach, but he also had a high level of emotional intelligence, which put him ahead of his time.

As I said earlier, Jackson’s rise to fame is one that seems like a fairy tale. But looking back on his experiences and his personality, it makes sense how all these aspects came together into the success that he was.

Jackson was able to use his patience and understanding of different personalities to bring them together in an unexpected way. He took the time to understand what made each player tick and was able to connect with them and gain his trust.

From Jordan wanting to be “the guy,” or Pippen wanting to sit out, to Rodman wanting a 48-hour “vacation,” Jackson had a true handle on the team. Most coaches in this situation probably could not have handled all the twists and turns that Jackson faced.

In the series, Doug Collins said that he had “a sense” that Jackson could be the head coach of the Bulls. And when he was asked to elaborate he continued to say, “a sense.” Man, was Collins right.